Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Norman on 26/2/2025, 8:18 pm

A large store, 'Farmfoods Ltd' in Hebburn Shopping Centre has closed permanently.
They had really long queues on the final day of people hoping for bargains.
They were closing permanently because they got sick of the scum thieves running in grabbing stuff and running out with it. This was in daylight aswell.
Why did our Police not do something to stop this
happening? Businesses shouldn't have to close down because of these thieves.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Mac Hardy on 26/2/2025, 8:28 pm, in reply to "Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

The shop lifting was partly due to the way the shop was set out, entry was at one end of the building with tills (which were not always staffed) at the other end, a thieves paradise. Such a shame because it was one of my favourite stores with helpful and friendly staff.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Brian on 26/2/2025, 8:47 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

The police aren't interested unless the theft value is £200 or more. Our neighbours son is a manager for Aldi he said they have a regular shoplifter who probably costs them in excess of £500 per week but getting the police to do something is impossible, the staff have been told not to put themselves in jeopardy.

Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Sheila on 26/2/2025, 8:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

How did we get to this situation, where thieves can think it’s ok to just go into a store and help themselves to anything they want. The Police take a large slice of our council tax every year and yet we never see them.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Liz Dance on 26/2/2025, 9:00 pm, in reply to "Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

It seems as though the Police are selective, shop lifting had been downgraded as a crime, all wrong.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by John Shearer on 26/2/2025, 9:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

Can't put them in Prison even when they do catch them! no place to put them and have to release them with a warning.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Malcolm on 26/2/2025, 9:37 pm, in reply to "Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

A couple of points here:

A) Why are we having these feral kids? That think it's OK to shop-lift?

Answer: An old saying; blame the parents....

B) Apparently, when shoplifting crimes were below a value of £200 (which most are) the Police policy was not to attend, HOWEVER, I heard recently that this was being scrapped....let's see..

It truly saddens me, that this is going on in dear old Hebburn

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Joseph on 26/2/2025, 10:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

I often used that shop after coming from the baths, probably 5, 6 times a week, don't think I ever saw a dozen people in it at any one time, yet soon as its closing due to lack of customers the queue was down and round shopping centre, goes to show any freebies involved, and they'll queue for hours even on a Sunday.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Stan Wears on 27/2/2025, 2:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

It's the same in Liverpool Morrisons. The spirits are locked up behind glass doors and you ring a bell if you want any. Grab and run scum....

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Thomas Buglass on 27/2/2025, 3:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

Well said Joseph.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Brian on 26/2/2025, 10:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

Malcolm it isn't necessarily young uns, it's career shoplifters, they have it sold within hours and are back out there, it's not only Hebburn it's everywhere.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by ricky on 27/2/2025, 10:29 am, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

I was in a charity shop in Whickham on Tuesday and they were having problems with shoplifters. She said people would just take things of shelves and walk out, even try shoes on then walk out with them on and leave their old shoes behind. I noticed they had moved many items , cd's, dvd's, brick a brack to the front of the shop so they can keep an eye on them.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Brian on 27/2/2025, 10:52 am, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

Charity shops are an easy target,no security, volunteers who are unlikely to challenge and the thieves are all ages too.

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Stan Wears on 27/2/2025, 9:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

I once tackled a shoplifter in the Hartlepool hospice charity shop who tried to lift 10 cd's. The police said if we sell them at £1 each it would cost a lot more to take him to court. So we had to let him go. Crime does pay doesn't it?!

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Robert L on 28/2/2025, 5:07 am, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

It’s not just Hebburn… it’s the UK

Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?

Posted by Davy on 28/2/2025, 12:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

When I worked down Stanstead Airport some girls used to steal to order.

Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting

Posted by Mac C on 28/2/2025, 2:05 pm, in reply to "Re: Guess why a shop closed here in Hebburn?"

Shoplifting was an occasional problem at Jarrow Woolworth's when it was on Ormonde St. Remember the flat open counters pictured below?
PS the pic is generic...not Jarrow in particular.

But is used to be dealt with in those days and therefore didn't become an epidemic.

Re: Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting

Posted by Sheila on 28/2/2025, 4:45 pm, in reply to "Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting"

Mac, that brings back a memory from years ago. It must have been the late 1940’s. My mother sent my brother to go for a message as we called food shopping, in those days. While he was out, a young woman called and asked my Mum if she would accompany her back to Jarrow Woolworths as my brother was held by the Store Manager as he was caught stealing. Just then my brother arrived home. She this is my son. Someone has used his name and address. She often used to say, she wished she has gone to Jarrow to see who was using my brother’s name, but at the time was cooking, so didn’t bother.

Re: Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting for Sheila

Posted by Mac C on 28/2/2025, 6:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting"

If today the store manager would be seen as the criminal for detaining him without calling the police.....!

Re: Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting for Sheila

Posted by Sheila on 28/2/2025, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Jarrow Woolworths-shoplifting for Sheila"

Sadly you are correct Mac C.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No bad language or derogatory remarks or we will delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'.